This is the most asked question by the English Learners around the world.question by the English Learners around the world.
English is the world’s lingua franca, a common language that people with different native languages use to exchange ideas.
Thanks a lot to English, people from completely different native languages—maybe Hindi, French and Japanese—can come together and have a great conversation with each other.
English is now spread across countries and various cultures, and the ability to speak this language well provides many opportunities for your career and for your social life.
The more fluent you are in English, the more interesting, exciting and insightful conversations you can make with the people around.
It adds more ability in your life-enriching experiences like traveling, studying and working abroad, not only in English Speaking Countries but also in many other countries where English is widely used.
The world is your oyster (the world is yours) and English is the language of the world. So, learn English.
The good news is that you can easily improve English speaking skills without a classroom partner or stressful lessons. It’s totally possible to have fun and master speaking a language at the same time.
Pronouncing the words correctly is the key to expression, but it is not everything you need. This article will take you ahead of the initial aspects to reach communicative ability.
How to Improve Your English-Speaking Skills
Make a Strong Base
In order to articulate yourself powerfully in English, you need a broad variety of glossary and the correct articulation.
Develop your vocabulary
Learn New Words Every Day with Suniltams
Learning new words a day in, day out is a good way to extend your word power. Commit to a fitting goal: it can be three daily words or it can be ten daily words. But, You should learn new words daily.
Even if you only have time to learn one new word per day, it is still worth trying. By learning one word every day, after one year you will have learned 365 new English words. Isn’t it?
Write the number down to remind yourself often. If you have a learning associate, share it with her/him so that she/he can check on your advancement.
Some good resources for words are the news, songs and TV shows, depending on your daily habits. If you love listening to music, pay attention to the lyrics and take note of the words you do not know. Songs often contain a lot of useful vocabularies, phrases, and expressions, hence, they are great for learning English. You can do the same thing with Suniltams Videos.
Learn Words in Phrases and Chunks
It is significant that you learn words in groups. For example, you refer to beverages as a glass of wine, a pint of beer, a cup of tea, a pot of coffee, etc. It is better to learn those phrases than merely wine, beer, tea and so on.
You can also benefit from learning words that are connected. The moon has four phases during a lunar month: crescent, gibbon, waxing and waning. It is more competent to learn all four words at the same time.
Improve your accent
You might know a lot of words, but if you fail to say them correctly, you will not be understood. That seems like a waste of the time spent on remembering words, right?
When using online dictionaries such as Macmillan and Merriam-Webster, make use of the little speaker symbol to check the pronunciation of any word that you are not sure about. There are English pronunciation tutorials on YouTube or podcasts like English Pronunciation Pod or American English Pronunciation to teach you the many aspects of American English pronunciation.
When you are ready for something more challenging, try out tongue twisters. Some examples are available here. Personally, I love the Fork handles sketch from the show “The Two Ronnies.” It might not be a typical example of everyday conversation, but it shows you the richness of spoken English. Besides, you will have a good laugh.
Learn the natural flow of English
Being able to say individual words correctly is great, but the secret of speaking fluently lies in the flow of sentences. Whenever you read a piece of poetry, listen to a melodic song or watch a hilarious sitcom, pay attention to the following:
Notice how native speakers link words together: joining two sounds, making a sound to disappear or changing a sound for a better flow.
Contractions are abridged forms of two words. For example:
I + am =I’m
he + will =he’ll
they + have =they’ve
do + not = don’t
There are stressed syllables in a word and stressed words in a sentence.
The rhythm is the overall result of stress, contractions, and linking. It is the ups and downs, the musical feature of English.
Techniques to Improve English Speaking Skills
Now that you have a strong foundation, you can apply some techniques to hone (improve) your English speaking skills.
Speech Shadowing
In a nutshell, this technique is about imitation. You listen to how a native speaker says something and try to copy it.
Pick your favorite video with subtitles.Make sure that it is something you enjoy watching because you will…
Listen to it many times.Listen to the video once and read the subtitles to get a good grasp of the general content and flow. While you are playing it again, complete the next step.
Imitate the narrator sentence by sentence. Listen. Pause. Speak. Record (optional). Copy the speech pattern as best as you can. If you choose to record your practice, you can compare yours and the original. Or else, just listen to your own sound and be critical of the difference or similarity. Repeat this step until the end of the video.
Self-talk
Talk to yourself in English loudly. It can be anything from a suggestion like, “Shall we go get a glass of water?” or a reminder, “I need to do a load of laundry today.”
Alternatively, pick up a book and read a couple of pages out loud. This exercise might slow down your reading, but it will speed up your speaking skills.
You can also record yourself, listen to the recording and watch out for any wrong pronunciations. If it is possible, ask for feedback from a native speaker.
Think in English
If you already think in English, it takes less time to produce or respond in everyday conversations. No translation needed!
A good way to start rethinking is to keep a diary where you express your daily thoughts in English. It does not have to be perfect, it is more about getting out thoughts in English with less and less effort.
Rephrase a story in English
Take the challenge a step further by retelling a story. You retrace other people’s line of thoughts in your own words.
I would start with a familiar story from your civilization. Your translation needs to convey not only the meaning of words but all rhetorical and cultural nuances.
On the other hand, you can choose different words to retell a simple story in English. Start from the basics, reading something like a fairy tale or a fable. Either way will be beneficial to your English communication skills.
Frequently Practice to Improve Your English Speaking Skills
Practice makes perfect, so do speak English in plenty. Some people think that they do not have the opportunity to practice speaking because they do not live in the US or another English-speaking country. They might also be discouraged because English is not used at their workplace, or they do not know any native speakers.
There is some validity in those excuses, but do not let them hinder your learning. Thanks to the growth of globalization and technology, you have more chances than ever to practice speaking English. You’ll find many ideas below.
Participate in public speaking events
Big universities, theaters and culture societies organize events like open debates, spoken word readings, and improvised storytelling gatherings. These are places where you can come and mingle with like-minded people and practice speaking English.
Many cities are now hosting TED or TEDx talks where you can register to participate and share your innovative ideas. Check the events page of your local university to see if there are any available. It might be a nerve-racking experience, but it would be great for your English!
Go to language Clubs
If public speaking terrifies you (and I know it does for many), you can opt for language cafes. Those cafes create a friendly and relaxing atmosphere for people who want to practice and exchange languages.
You can find language cafes through local universities or the Meetup groups available in your cities.
Using apps
Another option is to use an app to talk to native speakers online, in the comfort of your own home. Some popular apps are HelloTalk, Tandem, WeSpeke. Basically, you register for an account, introduce yourself, your native language and your hobbies. The app will find you some matches—the people who speak English and want to practice the language you know well. All you need to do is to press a few buttons and start talking.
Chat with Siri
I find chatting with Siri is a great way to force myself to speak more clearly. As Siri is a machine, you cannot rely on environmental clues and facial gestures to get your ideas across. Your words are the only tool you have to make yourself understood. Thus, you need to speak as clearly and precisely as you could.
Another plus point of using Siri is that she is always available (as long as your phone is charged and connected to a WiFi network). Just press the home button and start asking questions.
If you own an Android smartphone, you can practice speaking with Google Now.
So, off you go! Choose your favored method to enlarge your vocabulary, correct your articulation, and improve your English speaking with the methods that are right for you.
Do not forget to practice as much as possible.
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Self-confidence the turning point
Believe yourself, Colorful words on blackboard
It’s no wonder that everyone is looking for
something worthy, something that makes the one appear remarkable among people,
and most of us want to get ahead and do spectacularly well in life with a
complete conviction that our future must be bright. In fact, words are not
always enough, and success, even though we have ideas upheld by strong and
plain plans, will never come true unless we possess a special quality, it’s the
so-called self-confidence.
Self-confidence is a quality that let people
believe in themselves, skills and competencies to build their own future, and
face the upcoming challenges boldly. Those who possess this value have to be
certain that their life will be driven to something special, which will be a
major turning point in their life.
We have to bear in mind that any successful
project is built not only on having a clear vision, but also on having the
capacity to press ahead while you are facing welter of hindrances standing
against your own desire for reaching your dreams.
Moreover, being a self-confident person means
also to eradicate all kinds of worries that most of people have about future,
and what’s so important is to always expect the good to happen. I know you may
be going through unpleasant moments, but it doesn’t surprise me, because life
is a room where great people are always coping with struggles and is not meant
for the lazy to join in this battle.
Self-confidence as a very added value to our
life, resides also in the capacity of resisting all kinds of lures and
temptation that if anyone followed would be driven to a dark future. Try always
to keep yourself away from things that may mar your concentration, whenever you
meet the dreams killers, try to listen to yourself, your inner part and say
“yes I can do, I am determined and no one in the world is able to prevent me
from doing what I want”.
But the question that may raise is, how can we
build a self-confident spirit? In fact, there are many paths to follow, for
instance, the one will require experience, which is considered an inevitable
key, besides, reading is another feature likely to help us in building a
self-confident personality.
In addition to what it is already mentioned ,
keep in mind to never succumb to any strange voices whose aim, is to spoil your
ability to bear hard times, believe in your abilities and make any possible
efforts to enhance your skills and acquire new ones. However, avoid to
overestimate yourself or to put yourself on airs, on account of thinking you
know everything, don’t be a snooty person.
How to build a strong personality
Having a
strong personality, nowadays, is of essence. It’s the ability to stand
steadfast in the face of life and its vicissitudes during one’s lifetime. Yet,
it stands to reason that we should point out the bare-bones of steps one should
follow to reach this aim.
In my book,
each person may have a particular strategy or perception regarding how to shape
a sturdy personality.
Personally, I
believe that reading tops the league, as the main step to start with in a bid
to build up a strong personality, due to its effectiveness of shaping one’s
mindset. With no a scintilla of doubt, the more books you read, the more stable
and logical you grow, therefore provided with tremendous ideas and logical
evidence, which are the most critical
weapons required in this present-day
era, marked by the unstoppable flow of information launched every day. At this
stage, through reading, we can surround ourselves by shields to protect our
minds from any foreign potential attempts of hegemony over our thoughts. This high
capacity plays an important role in dealing easily with conversations.
Furthermore, I rank experience second, as another
essential tool, whose impact emerges as having great outcomes on the way we
think and act. As a matter of fact, being sociable, leading a daily life marked
by meeting people from different realms, will apparently affect how one could
respond to certain situations, as follows, daily challenges, taking swift and
down-to-earth decisions, as well as developing the way to understand and deal
with people.
Having said that, we have to know that, the most
important thing is that our moves in life should all be around a straight and
plain aim. The effectiveness of having a clear vision imparts self-confidence to
individuals, the quality people need to build their own future, and face the
upcoming challenges boldly. What we should bear in mind is that we don’t live
alone, by definition we belong to a society, hence we are sometimes forced us to
swim against the tide to overcome some social and mental barriers, it’s a question
of having the ability to resist and keep the focus on our idealistic purpose in
life without showing any pinch of surrender. Having this stamina will pave the
way for building an unbreakable personality.
Spoken English Part 19
Some tips for effective learning:
From the outset of our existence we have been dragging into the process of learning. It starts from learning how to walk to how to speak, both of which are necessary for discovering our surrounding in order to be able to tie a relationship with its parts. Thus, it is undeniable that every single move we make is based on the keyword; knowledge.
For instance, while studying, try to choose
a calm place, and if possible with attractive decoration inciting productivity.
Whenever boredom starts surging and striking hard, then you have to realise
it’s time for a change, look for another spot where you recharge your battery
and think clearly.
From the outset of our existence we have been dragging into the process of learning. It starts from learning how to walk to how to speak, both of which are necessary for discovering our surrounding in order to be able to tie a relationship with its parts. Thus, it is undeniable that every single move we make is based on the keyword; knowledge.
Knowledge should be the core and pivot of
our moves, the point on which the young should base their attempts while making
future plans. But the present-day students are finding themselves in a daze,
surrounded by avalanches of troubles resulting in having a gloomy vision about
what they want, which even affects their academic career.
Here are some tips I think are necessary
for students to follow to face up their upcoming challenges:
Do what you love, love what you do:
The grave mistake that some students make
is the random choice of their field of study, whether done due to lack of
foreknowledge or sometimes as a result of misguidance. In order not to be
another victim, the best advice to follow is to make a quite free choice based
on inner admiration towards the chosen field, which I believe to be the
sure-fire likely to lead to a bright future.
Be self-taught:
A special quality that every student needs
is self-teaching. Apart from the usual programme and materials scheduled by
schools and universities, it’s utterly important to adopt a strategy based on
leading one’s personal research and make tremendous efforts to broaden knowledge.
The best skills we acquire are those we learn on our own. This method not only bears
fruits, but it teaches students how to deal with different situations, as well
as instils in them the necessary tools they need throughout their professional
careers such as sense of responsibility, working with methodology,
perseverance and self-motivation.
Self-confidence: you can do it!
To keep focus on one’s aim is a challenge itself;
it’s a question of resisting all kinds of lures and temptation to only keep
ahead.
Self-confidence as a very added value is
what you need. Having the capacity of trusting your abilities, eradicating fear
and all things that may mar your concentration, and whenever you meet the
dreams killers, try to listen to yourself, your inner part and say “yes I can
do, I am determined and no one in the world is able to hold me back to prevent
me from doing what I want”.
A comfortable place is the best option:
During their academic career, students
should grasp that their emotional state has a significant effect on their
productivity. Among the things they should be careful about is the place they choose
for their studies.
Spoken English Part 18
British English and American English
British people and American people can always understand each other – but there are a few notable differences between British English and American English
Grammar
Americans use the present perfect tense less than speakers of British English and a British teacher might mark wrong some things that an American teacher would say are correct.
US Did you do your homework yet?
Brit. Have you done your homework yet?
US I already ate.
Brit. I’ve already eaten.
In British English, ‘have got’ is often used for the possessive sense of ‘have’ and ‘have got to’ is informally used for ‘have to’. This is much less common in American English.
Brit. I’ve got two sisters.
US I have two sisters.
Brit. I’ve got to go now.
US I have to go now.
There are a number of other minor grammatical differences.
Vocabulary
There are a lot of examples of different words being used in British and American English. Here are a few of the commonest.
angry (Brit.) = mad (US)
autumn = fall
boot (of a car) = trunk
chemist’s = drug store
cupboard = closet
flat = apartment
lift = elevator
nappy = diaper
pavement = sidewalk
petrol = gas/gasoline
rubbish = trash
tap = faucet
trousers = pants
There are British words which many Americans will not understand and vice versa. There are also words
which exist in both British and American English but have very different meanings.
Spelling
There are also a number of different spelling rules between British English and American English.
1 Some words that end in ‘-tre’ in British English end in ‘-ter’ in American English.
US theater, center
Brit. theatre, centre
2 Some words that end in ‘-our’ in British English end in ‘-or’ in American English.
US color, labor
Brit. colour, labour
3 Some words are shorter in American English than in British English.
US catalog, program
Brit. catalogue, programme
There are other minor spelling differences between British and American English.
British people and American people can always understand each other – but there are a few notable differences between British English and American English
Grammar
Americans use the present perfect tense less than speakers of British English and a British teacher might mark wrong some things that an American teacher would say are correct.
US Did you do your homework yet?
Brit. Have you done your homework yet?
US I already ate.
Brit. I’ve already eaten.
In British English, ‘have got’ is often used for the possessive sense of ‘have’ and ‘have got to’ is informally used for ‘have to’. This is much less common in American English.
Brit. I’ve got two sisters.
US I have two sisters.
Brit. I’ve got to go now.
US I have to go now.
There are a number of other minor grammatical differences.
Vocabulary
There are a lot of examples of different words being used in British and American English. Here are a few of the commonest.
angry (Brit.) = mad (US)
autumn = fall
boot (of a car) = trunk
chemist’s = drug store
cupboard = closet
flat = apartment
lift = elevator
nappy = diaper
pavement = sidewalk
petrol = gas/gasoline
rubbish = trash
tap = faucet
trousers = pants
There are British words which many Americans will not understand and vice versa. There are also words
which exist in both British and American English but have very different meanings.
Spelling
There are also a number of different spelling rules between British English and American English.
1 Some words that end in ‘-tre’ in British English end in ‘-ter’ in American English.
US theater, center
Brit. theatre, centre
2 Some words that end in ‘-our’ in British English end in ‘-or’ in American English.
US color, labor
Brit. colour, labour
3 Some words are shorter in American English than in British English.
US catalog, program
Brit. catalogue, programme
There are other minor spelling differences between British and American English.
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